Why have you been contacted?
Someone is concerned about you. They are worried that you might be experiencing harm or neglect.
It is the job of the Health and Social Care Partnership to listen to such concerns and take action to offer any help needed to keep people safe.
The law will protect you
The Scottish Government introduced legislation to protect people from being harmed. It is called the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007.
This law respects your right to have your wishes and feelings taken into account and to have the least intervention into your personal life.
The Adult Support and Protection process.
Inquiry (and investigative powers)
Once someone has raised a concern to the Health and Social Care Partnership, we look at the circumstances to decide if anything might need to be done to support and protect you. Further information might be needed to find out what has happened and to consider what else might need to happen to help you.
Usually a Social Worker and one other person will visit you to ask you about what has happened. You do not have to answer their questions if you do not wish to, but it is really important that your views are heard.
The Social Worker normally speaks to other people who have an interest in your wellbeing. This could include your Doctor, other health care professionals, your carer or anyone else who supports you. This will help them decide what kind of help to offer you.
Advocacy
An advocate is someone who can help you to make sure your views are heard about the things that affect you. If you want to have an advocate, you can arrange this yourself or you can ask the Social Worker to arrange this for you.
Case Conference
The Social Worker may invite you to a meeting called a Case Conference. Others who can help to support and protect you will also be invited.
The Case Conference usually lasts about one hour, but can be longer if there is a lot to talk about. A Social Worker will usually lead the meeting and everyone will have a chance to say what they think.
If you attend the meeting, you will have the chance to say what you think has happened and what you think needs to happen next.
If you do not attend, you can ask for someone else to go along on your behalf to say what you think should happen, or you can have a conversation with the Social Worker and ask them to make sure your views are heard.
It might help to write down what you want to say at the Case Conference, before the meeting takes place. You can ask the Social Worker for help to do this.
Why must there be a Case Conference?
A Case Conference may be needed to:
- confirm whether you are at risk of harm
- find out what the harm might be
- agree what needs to be done to protect you
What happens at the Case Conference?
At the Case Conference:
- information about any risks to your health or safety is shared
- your views and the views of supportive friends and family are considered
- a decision is made on whether you need a Protection Plan to keep you safe
- any plan that is needed to protect you is agreed.
What happens next?
Your Protection Plan is kept in place until you are safe. If needed, there can be regular meetings to review your circumstances. You will be invited to attend these Review Meetings.
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